"Watts" Up With Light Displays?

Those who put up elaborate holiday displays may open their next utility bill and say “watts” up?

"You were paying about 10 cents a kilowatt hour this time last year and you're paying about 12 cents now, that's a 20 percent increase," said City of Tallahassee energy auditor Lee Jones.

And that's a lot of money when you're talking 400,000 bulbs. Tom Armistead helps set up the grand light showing at Dorothy B. Oven Park every year.

"We've come up with ways of doing larger features with lights, so we get a large impact with really a reduced cost," he says.

The park isn't the only place in town where light displays have dimmed.

Renie Marchese says she and her husband have made changes and they now have a timer so they won't waste energy.

"This year we just decided to go with the small mom and dad polar bear sitting here this year, but we cut the number of lights we put up almost in half. We're taking into consideration the additional cost factor with electricity."

Although more pricey, most agree having at least some lights is priceless.

"It's all worth it when you come out here at night and in my case ‘cause I just work nights and just see the kids light up, they just love it and go wild over it," said Armistead.

So go ahead and turn the lights on. Tallahassee Utilities suggests using the lowest wattage bulbs and turning lights off at unnecessary times.

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